August 9, 2008
By Milton J. Valencia
Boston Globe Staff
Community activists held vigils in Lowell and Somerville last night to denounce the recent federal raids against suspected members of international gangs, saying the sweeps were meant to target criminals but are hurting families.
In Lowell, which has one of the largest Cambodian communities in the country, more than 160 relatives and friends of people facing deportation signed a petition calling for authorities to investigate the sweeps, saying they have been heavy-handed and overly broad.
"This is not a black-and-white issue," said Gregg Croteau, of the United Teen Equality Center. "It's incredibly complex, and our concern lies with the way all of these people are being depicted."
He said one of the men who was arrested, Song Sao, 30, was not a gang member and that he has only been arrested once, seven years ago on an assault and battery charge. Sao has been working with community groups since, he said.
In Lowell's Cambodian community, 187 people have been deported since 2002, and 15 people are expected to be deported on Aug. 14.
Activists and family members of would-be deportees called on authorities to stop such sweeps.
They handed out fliers to inform people of their rights, which include the right to remain silent and not having their home searched without a lawyer.
And they blasted authorities' practice of transferring detainees to prisons out of state.
"There's a lot of family members who have been affected," said Dimple Rana of Deported Diaspora, a community agency.
The vigils were held after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced that 80 people have been arrested in statewide raids in the last week, under a national Operation Community Shield initiative.
Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's office of investigations in Boston, said the raids target known criminals and gang members who have contributed to the street violence that has rocked communities.
By working with local police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement can use federal law to deport known criminals.
"Every individual targeted as part of this operation has a criminal record," Foucart said.
The 80 arrested represent 24 gangs, including the Tiny Rascals, Bloods, and MS-13, he said.
Of those arrested, 55 were permanent residents who could be deported for their crimes; 14 lived here illegally; two were wanted on deportation warrants; and three were living here after being deported. Six others were arrested on local criminal charges.
In Lowell, which has one of the largest Cambodian communities in the country, more than 160 relatives and friends of people facing deportation signed a petition calling for authorities to investigate the sweeps, saying they have been heavy-handed and overly broad.
"This is not a black-and-white issue," said Gregg Croteau, of the United Teen Equality Center. "It's incredibly complex, and our concern lies with the way all of these people are being depicted."
He said one of the men who was arrested, Song Sao, 30, was not a gang member and that he has only been arrested once, seven years ago on an assault and battery charge. Sao has been working with community groups since, he said.
In Lowell's Cambodian community, 187 people have been deported since 2002, and 15 people are expected to be deported on Aug. 14.
Activists and family members of would-be deportees called on authorities to stop such sweeps.
They handed out fliers to inform people of their rights, which include the right to remain silent and not having their home searched without a lawyer.
And they blasted authorities' practice of transferring detainees to prisons out of state.
"There's a lot of family members who have been affected," said Dimple Rana of Deported Diaspora, a community agency.
The vigils were held after Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced that 80 people have been arrested in statewide raids in the last week, under a national Operation Community Shield initiative.
Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's office of investigations in Boston, said the raids target known criminals and gang members who have contributed to the street violence that has rocked communities.
By working with local police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement can use federal law to deport known criminals.
"Every individual targeted as part of this operation has a criminal record," Foucart said.
The 80 arrested represent 24 gangs, including the Tiny Rascals, Bloods, and MS-13, he said.
Of those arrested, 55 were permanent residents who could be deported for their crimes; 14 lived here illegally; two were wanted on deportation warrants; and three were living here after being deported. Six others were arrested on local criminal charges.
8 comments:
Having your residence invaded-often in the early morning hours-by para-military dressed ICE members is a traumatizing event for all that are in that residence when it occurs. ICE is now changing it’s tactics somewhat by going into the home of a Legal Permanent Resident (“green card holders”) who has- in the past- being convicted for a felony or misdemeanor in State courts. Once apprehended, they will be placed in deportation proceedings and if the Legal Permanent Resident is adjudged to have been convicted of an “Aggravated Felony” under the Federal Law definition, then he will be deported unless in the off chance he’s eligible for some form of relief under the Federal Law.
The bigger issue is that these “gang members” that happen to be Khmer- and there are
many similar communities e.g. Long Beach, Stockton, etc will be deported as long as Cambodia continues to accept them. I suggest that the Cambodian government change it’s position and stop accepting these individuals because Cambodia has enough problems without allowing for the transporting of U.S. grown gang member and other offenders to
Cambodia. The policy of allowing U.S. deportees was made in about 2000 and, as I understand it, was on General’s decision in the MOI that changed the policy and allowed US deportees into the country. This needs to be changed back to not allowing these US grow offenders into Cambodia.
"And they blasted authorities' practice of transferring detainees to prisons out of state" This is a common tatic of ICE- shipping people out of the state so that family members can't have easy access to them. If they are in California they are shipped to Eloy, Arizona for deprotation proceedings.
the felony are tough they can be sent to fightthe Thai invading Cambodia.
If you're living under the law like others, there are no complaint can be made. These gangs are not suitable to live here but they're perfectly in jail or living with hun xen.
HUN SEN need those thugs to fight the invaders.
Welcome them all back and they can join up with the rest of the thugs and criminals in the Cambodian millitary police and army
Thai you will face the though guys from USA!!! May god bless them and lat them get what they wish for, though time.
I am glad these Cambodians who call themselves gangsters are being arrested and placed into a deportation proceeding.
Let Mr. Hun Sen's Cambodia deal with them.
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